September 23 – Luke 17:1-4
Jesus said to his disciples:
There will always be something that causes people to sin. But anyone who causes them to sin is in for trouble. A person who causes even one of my little followers to sin would be better off thrown into the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their neck. So be careful what you do.
Correct any followers of mine who sin, and forgive the ones who say they are sorry. Even if one of them mistreats you seven times in one day and says, “I am sorry,” you should still forgive that person.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A 17-year-old boy in North Little Rock, Arkansas, lit a joint (marijuana), gave it to his 3-year-old nephew, and told him to “hit the blunt” (smoke it). The teenager made a video of the whole thing and posted it on Facebook. In the video, you can hear the child ask if this is “weed” and see him at least attempt to inhale…while his uncle laughs.
The teenage boy has been arrested and faces charges for endangering the welfare of a minor. The child has been physically examined and returned to other family members. No matter how you feel about marijuana – or the fact that this was illegal in numerous ways - no rational person would for even one minute condone encouraging a young child to smoke anything…much less a Schedule I controlled substance! This teenager made a horrible mistake…and he will probably pay for it with some serious jail time, at the very least.
If we look at these first verses of Luke 17, we are warned not to cause another person to sin. While most of us have enough sense to know that giving marijuana to a toddler is wrong…we think nothing of making off-color comments. We deride others and discriminate against them. We judge people, gossip, engage in name calling, and so much more – with no regard for how this might appear to those who are watching and listening. We operate in “do as I say, not as I do” mode…and we cannot see that we are essentially handing a joint to a three-year-old and saying, “hit the blunt!”
So “Part One” of our message for today is to watch what we say and do – ALL of it - and never cause another person to sin. But then Jesus adds another important command…we must forgive any who remorsefully ask for mercy and absolution. Jesus is so adamant about this that He emphasizes that we should do this seven times in one day, if necessary! I will be the first to tell you that I really struggle with this one!
I think one of the reasons this is so hard for me is that many people find it easy to say “I’m sorry”…but then nothing really changes. Many people promise to do better or that “it will never happen again,” and we know before the words leave their mouths that this is not the truth. I have tried to imagine how all of this must seem to Jesus. Because you see, for every ridiculous “apology” and promise to do better that someone offers to each of us…we offer 100 times this many of the same to Jesus. For every time someone has said to you, “I will try to do better,” you and I have told God this more times than we can even count.
If we want God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness…we have to extend these blessings to others. If we truly operate in Christian faith and believe that we serve a God of second, third, and 103rd chances…we have to offer those to the people in our midst. We cannot cause others to sin…but we cannot fail to forgive those who mistreat us and ask for our forgiveness, either. Given the events in our country in recent months – and in the world at large – this is a terribly difficult challenge for me. But nobody ever said it was easy to be a faithful Christian!
So we are commanded to stay awake and alert…to check our thoughts, words and actions (because people ARE watching!)…and to forgive all who apologize, and show them love, grace and mercy. In other words, we are to emulate Jesus at all times – and in all ways. As Christian Disciples…we are called to give this our best shot each and every day. How are you doing so far?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Jesus said to his disciples:
There will always be something that causes people to sin. But anyone who causes them to sin is in for trouble. A person who causes even one of my little followers to sin would be better off thrown into the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their neck. So be careful what you do.
Correct any followers of mine who sin, and forgive the ones who say they are sorry. Even if one of them mistreats you seven times in one day and says, “I am sorry,” you should still forgive that person.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A 17-year-old boy in North Little Rock, Arkansas, lit a joint (marijuana), gave it to his 3-year-old nephew, and told him to “hit the blunt” (smoke it). The teenager made a video of the whole thing and posted it on Facebook. In the video, you can hear the child ask if this is “weed” and see him at least attempt to inhale…while his uncle laughs.
The teenage boy has been arrested and faces charges for endangering the welfare of a minor. The child has been physically examined and returned to other family members. No matter how you feel about marijuana – or the fact that this was illegal in numerous ways - no rational person would for even one minute condone encouraging a young child to smoke anything…much less a Schedule I controlled substance! This teenager made a horrible mistake…and he will probably pay for it with some serious jail time, at the very least.
If we look at these first verses of Luke 17, we are warned not to cause another person to sin. While most of us have enough sense to know that giving marijuana to a toddler is wrong…we think nothing of making off-color comments. We deride others and discriminate against them. We judge people, gossip, engage in name calling, and so much more – with no regard for how this might appear to those who are watching and listening. We operate in “do as I say, not as I do” mode…and we cannot see that we are essentially handing a joint to a three-year-old and saying, “hit the blunt!”
So “Part One” of our message for today is to watch what we say and do – ALL of it - and never cause another person to sin. But then Jesus adds another important command…we must forgive any who remorsefully ask for mercy and absolution. Jesus is so adamant about this that He emphasizes that we should do this seven times in one day, if necessary! I will be the first to tell you that I really struggle with this one!
I think one of the reasons this is so hard for me is that many people find it easy to say “I’m sorry”…but then nothing really changes. Many people promise to do better or that “it will never happen again,” and we know before the words leave their mouths that this is not the truth. I have tried to imagine how all of this must seem to Jesus. Because you see, for every ridiculous “apology” and promise to do better that someone offers to each of us…we offer 100 times this many of the same to Jesus. For every time someone has said to you, “I will try to do better,” you and I have told God this more times than we can even count.
If we want God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness…we have to extend these blessings to others. If we truly operate in Christian faith and believe that we serve a God of second, third, and 103rd chances…we have to offer those to the people in our midst. We cannot cause others to sin…but we cannot fail to forgive those who mistreat us and ask for our forgiveness, either. Given the events in our country in recent months – and in the world at large – this is a terribly difficult challenge for me. But nobody ever said it was easy to be a faithful Christian!
So we are commanded to stay awake and alert…to check our thoughts, words and actions (because people ARE watching!)…and to forgive all who apologize, and show them love, grace and mercy. In other words, we are to emulate Jesus at all times – and in all ways. As Christian Disciples…we are called to give this our best shot each and every day. How are you doing so far?
©2016 Debbie Robus
